Linux Kernel Compilation

from source to running

Muli Ben-Yehuda
mulix@mulix.org

IBM Haifa Research Labs

Linux Kernel Development, TAU Linux Workshop, July 2003 – p.1/9

 introduction
In this talk, I will talk about and demonstrate compiling the
Linux kernel. Topics inlcude:

overview of kernel compilation

configuring the kernel
dep, clean and mrproper
make bzImage - build the kernel image
make modules - build the modules
make modules_install and final installation
problem solving

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 overview
compiling the kernel is composed of three stages:
configuration, building (compiling) and installing
it’s really quite simpler than it appears, and it’s very hard
to cause damage and end with a non booting system
we will go over the steps together, configuring, building
and installing the latest 2.4 kernel (2.4.22-pre5 as I
write this)

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 configuration
configuring the kernel can be non trivial, since you have
to include support for your hardware for things to work
if you’ve done it before and saved the .config, just do
’make oldconfig’. ’make oldconfig’ will only asked about
new configuration choices and use your old choices for
everything else
otherwise, run ’make menuconfig’ or ’make xconfig’,
and start going through the options, based on your
computer’s hardware
alternatives include ’make defconfig’, for a “default”
configuration, and copying a distribution’s .config for a
configuration that should fit almost everything

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 dep, clean, and mrproper
after configuring the kernel, you need to do ’make dep’,
in order to generate dependency information and cause
various build magic to occur.
occasionally, you might want or need to clean up the
sources before beginning from scratch. ’make clean’ will
delete object files, ’make mrproper’ will delete everything
except the sources, including your .config! be sure to
save it elsewhere, not in the kernel source directory, as
’make mrproper’ will delete all files matching .config*
neither ’make clean’ nor ’make mrproper’ are needed if
this is the first time compiling the kernel from pristine
sources, only ’make dep’.

Linux Kernel Development, TAU Linux Workshop, July 2003 – p.5/9

 make bzImage
Not much to say here, really... ’make bzImage’ will build a
compressed, ready to be installed kernel image.
Alternatives include ’make vmlinux’, which will create a
debuggable (but not runnable) kernel image.

Linux Kernel Development, TAU Linux Workshop, July 2003 – p.6/9

 make modules
’make modules’ will built the various components which we
chose to build as modules. Why would we want to build
something as a module?

to save space in the kernel image (for embedded

systems)
for easier debugging of drivers and kernel code
to support new peripherals without requiring a kernel
reboot.

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install and make modules_install
’make modules_install’, which must be run as root,
ivileges) will create /lib/modules/‘uname -r‘ and copy the
modules there.
the bzImage file, found at arch/i386/boot/bzImage,
needs to be copied somewhere the boot loader will find
it. The System.map file should be copied along with it,
for debugging later, if necessary.
The boot loader (lilo, grub, else) should be updated to
reflect the old kernel. Never replace a working kernel
with a newly compiled one without verifying that it works
first!

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 problem solving
So you compiled your first kernel, and it doesn’t work.
Congratulations! you aren’t the first one, and certainly won’t
be the last one.

did you install the bzImage and modules properly? did

you update the boot loader?
if hardware that used to work no longer works, check
the .config for appropriate support
if you compiled your disk drivers as modules, you need
to create an initrd (initial ram disk). Read the
documentation for more information.
enjoy your new kernel!

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